EASTERN TIBET, 18TH CENTURY

The present painting, like that of lot 401, depicts the tathagata Amitabha seated in the Sukhavati. In contrast to the earlier painting of lot 401, the present work closely follows the Situ Panchen style of Eastern Tibet established by Situ Panchen Chokyi Junge (1700-1774) at Palpung Monastery in the eighteenth century, as evidenced by the minimalist composition and subdued palette, particularly that of the ground, which is left unpainted. The present painting may follow the Namcho tradition of 'Revealed Treasure' discovered by Mingyur Dorje (1645-1667), which incorporated several tantric elements and differed from other representations of the Sukhavati. Aspects that point to the Namcho tradition include the presence of the rare, four-armed form of Avalokiteshvara at Amitabha's proper right and the peaceful form of Vajrapani at Amitabha's left. Compare the present work with another Namcho-tradition painting of Sukhavati in the Shechen archives illustrated on Himalayan Art Resources, item no. 15410, although the present work replaces the grouping of the five tathagata buddhas at top with lamas and the bodhisattvas below with tantric deities.